Blow squeeze molding machine



Jan. 29, 1963 H. R. BILTER 3,075,262

BLOW SQUEEZE MOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l T-MHIH I i A -EF WI.

INL ENTQE HALsEc FFJL 7-5/9 Jan. 29, 1963 H. R. BILTER 3,075,262

BLOW SQUEEZE MOLDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1961 JJv van/r02 M44 5 le E514 TEE blllm...

Jan. 29, 1963 H. R. BILTER 3,075,262

BLOW SQUEEZE MOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 W D E I 5154 \n gang/U HH W mcym J A/TOE/V 59/ 3,975,262 550W SQUEEZE MULBING lvlAflilNE Halsey R. Bitter, iiiauwatosa, Wis, assignor to international Harvester @ompany, ijhicago, iii, a corpo= ration of New Jersey Filed Feb. 27, 3961, her. No. 91,671 7 Claims. (til. 22-46 This invention relates to a foundry apparatus and particularly to a machine conventionally known as an automatic blow-squeeze molding apparatus.

The conventional blow-squeeze molding machine comprises a blow-head which is adapted to blow sand through a blow plate into the mold boxes for producing conventional cope and drag molds stack mold sections, and also for producing cores. Beneath the blow-head there is usually provided a table which is vertically movable by means of a fluid extensible device and which will move a mold box seated on the table into sealing engagement with the blow-head. The blow-head contains the molding sand which is blown into the mold box and the box is then lowered away from the blow-head. Since it is desirable to ensure that the molding sand blown into the mold box is well compacted, it is customary to leave an excess amount of sand piled higher than the edges of the box by means of a spacer flange between the blowhead and the mold box. This sand is then compressed fiush with the edges of the mold box, thereby producing a core or mold having a higher density than that produced by only blowing. For this purpose the core blower generally also includes a squeezing mechanism which comprises a plate horizontally movable between the mold box and the blow-head. The table on which the box is seated is again raised and the upper open end box is forced against the squeeze plate which in turn then compresses the piled sand within the core box. The core or mold box, or" course, contains a pattern about which the sand is compacted.

In the manufacture of molds and cores, CO gas may be utilized for hardening a sodium silicate bonded sand which has been compacted within the more box. The hardening of the sand usually is accomplished after the compacting action against the squeeze plate has been completed. Molds made by this process are generally suitable for stacking purposes within the foundry and thus flat faces are necessary so that the parts may properly be stacked. In the operation of the conventional blowsqueeze machine, it has been found that upon the lowering of the core box from the squeeze plate that the separation or" the squeeze plate and the sand was not a clean separation and that portions or clots of sand were pulled from the top surface of the mold as the plate was removed from the mold box. In other words, the compacted sodium silicate bonded sand would have portions adhering to the squeeze plate upon vertical removal of the plate from the box and thus surface irregularities in the finished cores would result. These defects would consist of irregular surfaces which would prevent stacking and in some cases a great amount of sand was pulled from tie mold to actually weaken the walls of the mold during pouring of cast material. Since the sections for stacking would have to have fiat surfaces it is obvious that such defects would not permit the use of molds for stacking purposes.

it is a prime object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improved squeeze plate mechanism for a foundry machine of the blow-squeeze type.

A still further object is to provide an improved squeeze plate and mechanism which includes a horizontally movable plate which is adapted to be moved in shearing relation with respect to the compacted sand so as to break 3,2 52% Patented Jan. 2%, 1953 cleanly and efficiently without leaving surface defects in the finished core.

A still further object is to provide an improved squeezing mechanism for a core blower, the said device including a fluid extensible device for moving a squeeze plate into operative position whereby core sand is compacted within a mold box, the device also including means whereby additional horizontal movement is permitted immediately after the compacting operation whereby the squeeze plate is placed in relative shear with respect to the compacted sand and therefore the plate breaks cleanly and evenly without leaving surface defects after the compacting operation.

A still further and more specific object of the invention is to provide an improved squeezing mechanism for a blow-type foundry mold and core making machine, the said device including a fluid extensible device connected to a squeeze plate which will move the squeeze plate into horizontal position between a blow-head and a core box filled with sand, the said mechanism also including a latch which will limit the horizontal movement of the squeeze plate in operative position until the sand within the core box is compacted against the squeeze plate and whereupon removal of the core box from the squeeze plate the latch mechanism is efective to permit the fluid extensible device to move the squeez plate additionally horizontally, thereby creating shear between the squeeze plate and the compacted sand so that it breaks free without any resulting surface defects in the finished mold or core.

These and other objects will become more readily apparent from a reading of the description when examined in connection with the accompanying sheets of drawings.

in the drawings:

PEG. 1 is a side elevational view of a mold making blow-squeeze machine including an improved latch mechanism, with a mold box in position for receiving sand blown from a blow-head;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 showing a squeeze plate moved into position prior to the compaction of sand within a mold box;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a squeeze plate moved into a compacting position with respect to sand within a mold box and showing the operation of a latching device;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational View sirnliar to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 showing a squeeze plate moved to a shear or break position relative to the compacted sand in a mold box;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through a portion of the blow-squeeze machine and associated elements, taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a blow-squeeze machine including an improved latching device for regulating the operation of a squeeze mechanism; and

HG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of a latching mechanism for a blow-squeeze foundry machine.

Referring now to the drawings, a foundry blow-squeeze machine is generally referred to by the reference character The blow-squeeze machine 19 compr es a convent-ional blow-head lit in the form of a funnel shaped body 11?. having an internal cavity 35. The funnel shaped body is connected to a suitable source of air under pressure and a supply of sodium silicate bonded sand, neither of which is shown since they may be of conventional construction. A blow-plate is including a plurality of blow holes is suitably connected to a flange l6 and spacer flange 16 by means of screws 17.

A table or movable platform support 18 is positioned beneath the blow-plate l4 and is connected to a rod or ram 1? forming part of a conventional fluid extensible cylinder 20. The cylinder 28 reciprocates the rod 19 for moving the table 18 upwardly and for lowering the same relative to the plate 14. A conventional type of mold box 21 is shown mposition on the table 18, the said box having a sand receiving cavity 22. The box 21 may also include a suitable pattern 21 around which the sand is to be blown to form the desired core or mold. As indicated in FIG. 2, the box 21 is filled with sand which after the blowing operation is positioned higher than the sides of the box 21.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, a squeeze mechanism is generally designated by the reference character 24 and comprises a support 25 having upwardly extending laterally spaced plates 25. A cylinder support 26 is carried by the support 25 and bracket 26 is supported thereon. A fluid cylinder or extensible device 27 is pivoted on the bracket 26 as indicated by the reference character 28. The extensible device 27 comprises a piston 259 reciprocally positioned within the cylinder, the said. device27 being suitably connected to a source of air pressure at both ends for'reciprocating the said piston 29. A piston rod 30 projects from the cylinder 27 and a squeeze plate 31 includes an extension 32 which is pivotally connected as indicated at 33 to the end of the rod 38. The squeeze plate 31 has rotatably connected thereto four rollers 34 which are supported on, a pair of laterally spaced track members 35, The track members 35 are in turn supported on the plates 25" by means of brackets 35'. Thus the squeeze plate 31 is supported by horizontal movement on the track members 35, but as shown in FIG. 3 may pivot relative to the rod 36 as indicated.

The squeeze plate 31 is also provided with art-extension 3. particularly well illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6,. The extension 36 is adapted to operate a latch mechmsm generally designated at 37. The latch mechanism 37 comprises a support 38 which supports a L-shaped' bracket 39 having an arm 40 suitably pivoted thereto as indicated by the reference character 41. The arm 45 is recessed as indicated at 41' so as to straddle the horizontal portion of the member 39. A horizontal latch member or bar 42 is pivoted to a vertical portion of the member 39 by; means of a pivot pin 43, the said bar 42 also being recessed as indicated at 43 to straddle the vertical portion of the member 39. The left extremity of the bar 42 is undercut to provide a stop .4 and the bar 42 includes an extension 45. A screw 46 is threaded through the extension 45 and is locked in an adjusted position by means of a lock nut 47. As shown in FIG. 4, the arm 4% may move in a clockwise and counterclockwise position,'it be ing normally returned to its vertical position by means of a leaf spring 48 suitably connected to the L-shaped member 39 by means of ascrew 49. A second leaf spring 50 isuconneoted by means of a screw 51 to the extension 36 of the squeeze plate 31. The member 39 includes a flange 5 2, as shown in FIG. 6, having a slot 53 through which screws 54 extend-into the support 38, so, that the latch maybe adjusted horizontally.

T he Operation As shown in FIG. 1, a mold box 21 containing a suitablepattern 21' is placed upon the table 18 whereupon a suitable source of pressure (not shown) actuates the piston rod 19 in an upward direction until the upper end of the box is in sealing relation with respect to the spacer flange 16' and below the blow-plate 14. Sand under pressure is now blown into the box through the openings 15 until the box is filled and, as indicated in FIG. 2, the piston arm 19 is lowered whereupon .the table 18 also is lowered and a certain portion of sand projects upwardly from the edges of the box. It is now desired to compact the sand within the box so that the sand is flush with the upper edges, As shown in FIG. 2, the cylinder 27 is now placed in operation and the piston 29 and squeeze plate 31 move to the right in position between the box 21 and the blow-head 11. The extension as now comes into abutment with the arm 40 and further movement in a horizontal direction ceases. The cylinder Zil'is then again actuated to move the table 18 upwardly and the sand 23 engages the squeeze plate 31 and the box 21 is moved upwardly until the squeeze plate 31 engages the flange 16' and upon continued movement the sand 23 is efiiciently compacted within the box 21. The upward movement of the squeeze plate is indicated in FIG. 3 and the extension 35 has engaged the screw 46 thereby lifting the bar 42 upwardly so that the stop 44 is no longer in engagement with the arm 4i). The spring 5d exerts a stronger force than the spring 43 and now moves the arm 49 in a clockwise direction underneath the =bar 42. At this stage as shown in PIS. 3, the piston l9 has not moved to the end of the cylinder but is still under pressure and is prevented from complete movement since the squeeze plate is tightly held against the flange 16.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the phase of the operation wherein the squeeze plate and mold box have just been released from the blow-head. Since there is still pressure within the cylinder 27, the pistonnow has moved to the end of itsstiroke and the squeeze plate hasmoved further to the right .in shear relation with respect to the sand in the mold box thereby shearing or breaking clean from the compacted sand to leave a smooth surface. As the table and box 21 are thus lowered the piston 29 moves again to the left moving the squeeze plate 31 to the left on the track members 35 until the squeeze plate is again in its inoperative position as indicated in FIG. .1. Since the extension 36 is withdrawn with the squeeze plate 31 the spring 48 returns the arm 40 to the position again indicated in FIG. 1 so that the next cycle of operation may begin.

Thus when the clamping pressure of the table 18 against the squeeze plate 31 which is clamped against the blow-head 11 during the squeeze operation is released, the squeeze plate 31. moves approximately to the right to finish the stroke eifected by the piston 29 and this slight movement causes a shearing action of the plate against the compacted sand 23 within the box 23. so that the sand material does not adhere to the squeeze. plate causing surface defects in the resultant core or mold. In other words, the shearing principle or horizontal movement in shear relation with respect to the sand 23 has the effect of cleanly breaking the squeeze plate 31 free of the compacted sand prior to vertical lowering of the mold from the squeeze plate so that a mold free of surface defects is provided. Thus molds utilizing the novel arrangement disclosed have level backs free of defects. which permits stacking and also which assures structurally sound molds when the pouring operation is conducted.

Thus it is believed that the objects of the invention have beenfullyachieved and that changes. and modifications may be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention as disclosed or from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimedis:

1. In a foundry machine for blowing cores and the like, a blow-head, a movable table positioned below said blow-head, said table being arranged to support a mold box with an open sand receiving cavity, and means for moving said table and box in position wherein said cavity and blow-head are in registry; a squeeze mechanism including a support, a fluid extensible device supported on said support, a squeeze plate connected to said extensible device to be moved thereby, said squeeze plate being movable horizontally in one direction from inoperative to operative position beneath said blow-head and also being movable vertically, a stop and release latch positioned in the line of travel of said squeeze plate, said latch including an arm normally positioned in an upright manner, means pivotally supporting said arm on said latch whereby said latch may have limited hinging movement in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, a

pivoted horizontal member on said latch, and said horizontal member including stop means normally retaining said arm in a latch position, said squeeze plate being movable horizontally against said arm whereby said squeeze plate is restrained against further horizontal movement, said means for moving said table being operable to move said box with a filled cavity upward against said squeeze plate, whereby said plate and box are moved upwardly into squeeze position relative to said blowhead, means on said squeeze plate during upward movement enga ing and moving said horizontal member upwardly out of latching engagement with respect to said arm, means associated with said squeeze plate for moving said arm clockwise from latched position, whereby said squeeze plate during lowering from squeeze position is moved again horizontally in the same direction and in shearing relation with respect to packed sand in said cavity, and resilient means engaging said arm to return the same to normal latched position during horizontal movement of said plate to inoperative position.

2. In a foundry machine for blowing cores and the like, a blow-head, a movable support positioned below said blow-head, said support being arranged to support a mold box with an open sand receiving cavity, and means for moving said cavity and blow-head in registry; a squeeze mechanism including a second support, a fluid extensible device supported on said second support, a squeeze plate connected to said extensible device to be moved thereby, said squeeze plate being movable horizontally in one direction from inoperative to operative position beneath said blow-head and also being movable vertically, a stop and release latch positioned in the line of travel of said squeeze plate, said latch including an arm normally positioned in an upright manner, means pivotally supporting said arm on said latch whereby said latch may have limited hinging movement in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction, a pivoted horizontal member on said latch, and said horizontal member including stop means normally retaining said arm in a latched position, said squeeze plate being movable horizontally against said arm whereby said squeeze plate is restrained against further horizontal movement, said means for moving said first support being operable to move said box with a filled cavity upward against said squeeze plate, whereby said plate and box are moved upwardly into squeeze position relative to said blow-head, means on said squeeze plate during upward movement engaging and moving said horizontal member upwardly out of latching engagement with respect to said arm, means associated with said squeeze plate for moving said arm clockwise from latched position, whereby said squeeze plate during lowering from squeeze position is moved again horizontally in the same direction and in shearing relation with respect to packed sand in said cavity, and resilient means engaging said arm to return the same to normal latched position during horizontal movement of said plate to inoperative position.

3. In a foundry machine for blowing cores and the like, a blow-head, a movable table positioned below said blowhead, said table being arranged to support a mold box with an open sand receiving cavity, and means for moving said table and box in position wherein said cavity and bios/head are in registry, a squeeze mechanism including a squeeze plate, means moving said squeeze plate horizontally, said squeeze plate being movable horizon; tally in one direction from inoperative to operative position beneath said blow-head and also being movable vertically, a stop and release latch positioned in the line of travel of said squeeze plate, said latch including an arm normally positioned in an upright manner, means pivotally supporting said arm on said latch whereby said latch may have limited pivotal movement, a pivoted horizontal member on said latch, said horizontal member including stop means normally retaining said arm in a latched position, said squeeze plate being movable horizontally against said arm whereby said squeeze plate is restrained against further horizontal movement, said means for moving said table being operable to move said box with a filled cavity upward against said squeeze plate, whereby said plate and box are moved upwardly into squeeze position relative to said blow-head, means on said squeeze plate during upward movement engaging and moving said horizontal member upwardly out of latching engagement with respect to said arm, means associated with said squeeze plate for moving said arm from latched position whereby said squeeze plate is moved again horizontally in the same direction and in shearing relation with respect to packed sand in said cavity, and means urging said arm to return the same to normal latched position.

4. In a foundry machine for blowing cores and the like, a blow-head, a movable table positioned below said blow-head, said table being arranged to support a mold box with an open sand receiving cavity, and means for moving said table and box in position wherein said cavity and blow-head are in registry; a squeeze mechanism including a squeeze plate connected to said extensible device to be moved thereby, said squeeze plate being movable horizontally in one direction from inoperative to operative position beneath said blow-head and also being movable vertically, a stop and release latch positioned in the line of travel of said squeeze plate, said latch including an arm normally positioned in an upright manner, means pivot-ally supporting said arm on said latch, a pivoted horizontal member on said latch, said horizontal member including stop means normally retaining said arm in a latched position, said squeeze plate being movable horizontally against said arm whereby said squeeze plate is restrained against further horizontal movement, said means for moving said table being operable to move said box with a filled cavity upward against said squeeze plate, whereby said plate and box are moved upwardly into squeeze position relative to said blow-head, means on said squeeze plate during upward movement engaging and moving said horizontal member out of latching engagement with respect to said arm and said arm is re leased from latched position, whereupon release of said mold from squeeze position said squeeze plate is moved again horizontally in the same direction and in shearing relation with respect to packed sand in said cavity.

5. In a foundry machine for blowing cores and the like, a blow-head including means adapted to support a mold box in contiguous relation with respect to said blow-head for receiving molding sand therefrom; a squeeze mechanism comprising a squeeze plate movable horizontally to an operable position between said blowhead and said box whereby molding sand in said box may be compacted therein, means for moving said squeeze plate to said operable position and for retracting the same to an inoperative position, said means comprising a fluid actuating device, and limiting means cooperating with said fluid actuating device for limiting the horizontal movement of said squeeze plate while compacting said sand, said limiting means being constructed and arranged to permit additional horizontal movement of said plate in response to actuation of said actuating device whereby said plate moves in relative shearing relation with respect to sand in said mold box after compaction of said sand.

6. In a foundry machine for blowing cores and the like, a blow-head including means adapted to support a mold box in contiguous relation with respect to said blow-head for receiving molding sand therefrom; a squeeze mechanism comprising a squeeze plate movable horizontally to an operable position relative to said box whereby molding sand in said box may be compacted against said plate, means for moving said squeeze plate to said operable position and for retracting the same to an inoperative position, said means comprising a fluid actuating device, and limiting means cooperating with said fluid actuating device for limiting the horizontal a emaea movement of said squeeze plate while compacting said sand, said limiting means being constructed and arranged to permit additional horizontal movement of said plate in response to actuation of'said actuating device whereby said plate moves inrelative shearing relation with respect to sand in said mold box after compaction of said sand.

7. In a foundry machine for blowing cores and the like, a blow-head including means adapted to support a mold box in contiguous relation with respect to said blow-head for receiving molding sand therefrom; '-a squeeze mechanism comprising a squeeze platemovable horizontally to an operable position-relative to said box whereby molding sand in said box may be compacted against said plate, actuating means for moving said squeeze plate to said operable position and for retracting the same to an inoperative position, and limiting-means cooperating with .said actuating means for limiting the horizontal movement of said squeeze plate while compactingsaid sand, said limiting means being constructed and arranged to permit additional horizontal movement of said plate in response to actuation of said actuating means whereby said plate moves in relative shearing relation with respect to sand in said mold box after coinpaction of said sand.

References Cited in the file or this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,864,134 7 Harrison Dec. 16, r958 FOREIGN PATENTS 518,605 "Canada -t Nov. is, 1955 

1. IN A FOUNDRY MACHINE FOR BLOWING CORES AND THE LIKE, A BLOW-HEAD, A MOVABLE TABLE POSITIONED BELOW SAID BLOW-HEAD, SAID TABLE BEING ARRANGED TO SUPPORT A MOLD BOX WITH AN OPEN SAND RECEIVING CAVITY, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID TABLE AND BOX IN POSITION WHEREIN SAID CAVITY AND BLOW-HEAD ARE IN REGISTRY; A SQUEEZE MECHANISM INCLUDING A SUPPORT, A FLUID EXTENSIBLE DEVICE SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORT, A SQUEEZE PLATE CONNECTED TO SAID EXTENSIBLE DEVICE TO BE MOVED THEREBY, SAID SQUEEZE PLATE BEING MOVABLE HORIZONTALLY IN ONE DIRECTION FROM INOPERATIVE TO OPERATIVE POSITION BENEATH SAID BLOW-HEAD AND ALSO BEING MOVABLE VERTICALLY, A STOP AND RELEASE LATCH POSITIONED IN THE LINE OF TRAVEL OF SAID SQUEEZE PLATE, SAID LATCH INCLUDING AN ARM NORMALLY POSITIONED IN AN UPRIGHT MANNER, MEANS PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID ARM ON SAID LATCH WHEREBY SAID LATCH MAY HAVE LIMITED HINGING MOVEMENT IN A CLOCKWISE AND COUNTERCLOCKWISE DIRECTION, A PIVOTED HORIZONTAL MEMBER ON SAID LATCH, AND SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBER INCLUDING STOP MEANS NORMALLY RETAINING SAID ARM IN A LATCH POSITION, SAID SQUEEZE PLATE BEING MOVABLE HORIZONTALLY AGAINST SAID ARM WHEREBY SAID SQUEEZE PLATE IS RESTRAINED AGAINST FURTHER HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT, SAID MEANS FOR MOVING SAID TABLE BEING OPERABLE TO MOVE SAID BOX WITH A FILLED CAVITY UPWARD AGAINST SAID SQUEEZE PLATE, WHEREBY SAID PLATE AND BOX ARE MOVED UPWARDLY INTO SQUEEZE POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID BLOWHEAD, MEANS ON SAID SQUEEZE PLATE DURING UPWARD MOVEMENT ENGAGING AND MOVING SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBER UPWARDLY OUT OF LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID ARM, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SQUEEZE PLATE FOR MOVING SAID ARM CLOCKWISE FROM LATCHED POSITION, WHEREBY SAID SQUEEZE PLATE DURING LOWERING FROM SQUEEZE POSITION IS MOVED AGAIN HORIZONTALLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND IN SHEARING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO PACKED SAND IN SAID CAVITY, AND RESILIENT MEANS ENGAGING SAID ARM TO RETURN THE SAME TO NORMAL LATCHED POSITION DURING HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATE TO INOPERATIVE POSITION. 